JGL53

If I'm not mistaken, the studies done of the Inuit and the Masai, to cite two extremely different ethnic groups, found that they didn't consume an excess of calories, ate little if any plant foods, but ate mainly animal meat, fat, or milk. And they are healthy, e.g., don't get CHF at age 50, etc.

I think this is enough to tell us that somebody's pyramid is fucked.

I doubt if there will ever be enough epidemiological studies with enough tight controls on variables to pinpoint the exact ratio of nutients, fiber, etc. that will be the 'optimum' diet for ALL humans.

I suspect there is no such optimum diet, as we all are individuals. E.g., a 45/30/25 fat/protein/carb diet of 3,200 calories a day may be optimum for me, but a 30/15/55 diet of 2,200 calories a day may be your optimum diet.

abe smith

"Why eat vegetables?" Because they're INTEReSTING! They TASTE GOOD! Of course y' have to be some sort of *sensualist* to like sensory inputs: tactual, odourous, kinetic... yum yum yum.. Picking them out by-hand at the supermarket is a sensory experience; smelling them; getting them ready to cook is that; cooking them is that; getting them out to serve is that; eating them is that! Beautiful tactual & visual forms! Beautiful colors! Wonderful textures! yummy smells & flavours! What d'you-all have BODIES for? When was the last time you looked at, smelled, tasted anything? what can I tell ya? Does anybody here like kasha?

Claudia

On the list of forgotten vegetables: egg plants, fennel, bet-troot (and bett-leaves), leeks, endives, baby peas still in theis enveloppe (I do not know the english name), salsify, radishes (I mostly eat the small red ones... _+their leaves in the soup), christophines,... cabbage family is wide, brocolis are the ones I like less, I prefer cauliflowers (for cabbages, very important not to cook them too much), pumpkin family is wide too, with various tastes (zuccinis, cucumbers,...),
+ in the starchy vegetables, lentils are among my favourites (good for iron content). Do not forget plantain bananas, sweet potatoes, and there are a lot of tropical vegetables that I do not know the name.
I prefer to eat the artichoke hot, and do not forget to eat the leaves (well, the small part of them which is eddible).

Last week-end, I have eaten: cantaloupe, green peas, carrots, tomatoes, corn, sweet peppers, a banana, an orange, green beans, egg-plants, onions, rice, strawberries, a peach, an artichoke, an apple... Probably forgotten some (they can be mixed either in hot dishes or in salads)

Claudia

About masais and inuits on traditional diet and life:
Those who survive are healthy... for some times. But would they stay alive long when they are not healthy anymore? Curious to see life expectation for these people.

Thesouphead

I eat veggies because I like the way they taste and I also like the variety of textures they bring to the table....although I don't usually eat at the table.

Nuno Figueira

It won't tell you much because around one third of the current Inuit's deaths are violent deaths, acidents, suicides, homicides, etc....

I can't find much info on their life expectancy before the introduction of western wealth care, sugar, white floor, alcohol,etc.... But even these stats won't be much help because just the fact that hunther gatherer societies have up to three times as much infant mortality rates screws everything up.

villainess

Even more than that, I'm constantly shocked that most people don't seem to know what really fresh vegetables taste like.

I realize that a lot of Boomers grew up being fed by people to whom more processed food = higher status, and that much of the current trendiness of farmer's markets is the inevitable backlash against that (just as the better living through chemistry crowd was backlashing against having to eat whatever came out of the ground, including woodchucks, during the Depression), but the fortunate byproduct of this backlash is that fresh foods really do taste better. Strawberries, tomatoes, and peas are only the most obvious examples - many are the vegetables that are at their best fresher and closer to raw than the American table has been accustomed.

At the opposite extreme, there is the simple brown sugar solution - glazed carrots and candied yams, still better for you than anything you can purchase at McD's unless you get the salad with the bug in it.

But what do I know? I love brussel sprouts. I wouldn't give up vegetables if I could, at least not until the production of dietary supplements has advanced way beyond where it is now.

the_villainess

Nuno Figueira

Brussel sprouts rule!! :notworthy